New Reading secondary school could be given go ahead

Plans for the secondary school, which could be called the River Academy, were submitted in January, and involve building two large connected school buildings next to the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Richfield Avenue.

The school would have a maximum capacity of 1,500 pupils, containing a 300 place sixth form and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.

The pupils would be split among eight year groups, with 156 members of staff working on site.

READ MORE: Reading school for autistic pupils told to improve by OFSTED

The school would be run by the Maiden Erlegh Trust, which already runs the Maiden Erlegh schools in Reading, Erlegh and Chiltern Edge school in Sonning Common.

The new school plan has been recommended for approval by council planning officer Julie Williams ahead of it being decided on.

Her report states that the site is the only one available that meets various requirements identified by the Department for Education for new secondary schools.

She also argued that secondary school provision is limited in the north and west of Reading.

What the new River Academy secondary school could look like once built. Credit: River Academy

The school would be built on land that was previously used as a golf driving range and laser clay pigeon shooting range.

In 2018, Reading Borough Council considered allowing land at Richfield Avenue and Cow Lane to be used as a permanent Traveller site.

However, the council decided that the land should be used for the new school instead.

As for the site layout, the school would be accessed from Richfield Avenue and have a total of 82 car parking spaces, six of which reserved for disabled blue badge holders.

Eight spaces will be reserved for electric vehicle charging, and the school will have 120 bike parking spaces.

The car park would be to the south, closest to the road, with the main school buildings the centrepiece, with a multi-use games area (MUGA) to the north east of the main buildings and a large playing field stretching north towards the River Thames.

The site masterplan for the River Academy secondary school in Richfield Avenue, Reading. Credit: Bowmer & Kirkland

The site itself lies east of the Reading Festival grounds.

Notably, officer Williams’ report states the playing fields will be made available to provide camping space for disabled festival-goers.

Additionally, vehicular access and pedestrian access would be provided during the festival construction phase and the event itself.

READ MORE: What it's like to be in the Reading Festival guest area 

The fate of the school is due to be decided at a council planning meeting on Wednesday, June 1.

Officer Williams recommended it be approved subject to a section 106 legal agreement which would include:

• Constructing a ‘tiger crossing’ to allow pedestrians and cyclists to access the school safely
• £200,000 of funding towards improving pedestrian and cycle routes on the north and south sides of Richfield Avenue
• Creating an employment and skills plan – or paying  £26,107.50
• for the construction and £7,832.25 to the school end user if such a plan is not devised.

You can view the application by typing reference 212061 into the council's planning portal.